“John has not commenced it yet, but if you would advise it, I will buy him a book.”
“I should think he was old enough to study it,” said Walter.
General Wall was evidently disposed to employ Walter. He feared that if he was not engaged some teacher would be procured who would be unable to carry John forward in the advanced course upon which he had entered.
“Well, Squire Griffiths, shall we proceed to the examination?” he suggested. “Dr. Owens will be unable to attend our meeting this evening, so that duty will be thrown upon us.”
“I haven’t no objection, general. You may start, and I’ll come in with a few questions bimeby.”
“I will ask you to read first, Mr. Howard,” said the general. “Here’s a book. You can open it anywhere, and read.”
The book chanced to be an historical work, written in a style clear and flowing. Walter read it easily and fluently for half a page.
“I think that will do,” said General Wall. “Are you satisfied, Squire Griffiths?”
“Pretty fair,” said the squire, patronizingly; “but there was one word which I think Mr. Howard pronounced a leetle wrong.”
“Which word was it?” inquired Walter, somewhat surprised.